Phil Taylor will begin the defence of his Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters title against Australia’s emerging star Corey Cadby, whilst world number one Michael van Gerwen will take on New Zealand’s Cody Harris, when the PDC World Series of Darts event kicks off at The Star on Thursday.

Taylor is yet to taste defeat in Sydney, having won all three of the tournament’s previous stagings. Nevertheless, the 56-year-old will face a tough test in the shape of Cadby. The 21-year-old Tasmanian has won an impressive seven DPA titles this year, and will be relishing the prospect of making his televised debut against ‘The Power’.

World number one Michael van Gerwen will take on New Zealand’s number one Cody Harris, who impressed in this year’s World Cup of Darts.

Van Gerwen could face his Dutch compatriot Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals, although Van Barneveld has been handed a very tough draw against world number 30 Kyle Anderson. Anderson defeated the Dutchman 6-5 in Sydney two years ago, although the five-time world champion will be hoping to avenge that defeat this time around.

Australia’s number one Simon Whitlock will lock horns with eighth seed Peter Wright, who is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals of any World Series event in 2016. Elsewhere, Adrian Lewis, the 2015 Auckland Darts Masters winner, faces the experienced Kiwi Rob Szabo, twice a PDC World Championship qualifier.

World champion Gary Anderson will go in search of his fourth World Series title this year when he faces the DPA Australian Grand Prix number one, David Platt. Platt has claimed six DPA titles this year, but ‘The Flying Scotsman’ is full of confidence at present and will be hoping to extend his lead on the World Series Order of Merit.

Finally, Dave Chisnall will meet current DPA number three Harley Kemp, while June’s Shanghai Darts Masters finalist James Wade will go in search of his maiden World Series crown, when he battles another TV debutant, Rhys Mathewson.